According to Sager, Gasol said it "certainly looks like a possibility" that he will be moved before the Feb. 21 trading deadline. The Lakers have tried unsuccessfully to deal Gasol dating to last year.

Gasol softened his stance following LA's 95-83 loss to the Chicago Bulls. He said he'd like to remain a Laker and is focused on helping the Lakers turn their season around.

"I feel like I'm a part of this team and part of this franchise. I love to play here for as many years as possible because I identify myself with the team. I want it to work," Gasol told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

But, he added, "Trades are part of this business, and always a possibility for any player except the ones that have clauses that say they have to agree with the trade."

According to the LA Daily News, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said last week that he didn't expect the Lakers to be active at the deadline.

The LA Daily News noted that Gasol, 32, has two years and $38.3 million remaining on his contract.

D'Antoni replaced Gasol with Earl Clark at power forward. Gasol will now back up center Dwight Howard. D'Antoni said he made the move to add quickness to the starting unit and return Gasol to his natural position.

"It isn't against him, it's better for us right now," D'Antoni said before the game. "We're going to try to work through it and see what we can do. Things do change, things happen, I can't see the future but we're ready to go forward."

Gasol had 15 points and 12 rebounds in 25 1/2 minutes vs. Chicago.

The Lakers are 17-24 at the halfway point of their season, having lost nine of their last 11 games, and are 12th in the NBA's Western Conference.